We have reached the final of the WTA Volvo Car Open in Charleston, South Carolina. Two women remain standing, but only one can being home the title. Who will it be? Let’s look at the matchup and give our thoughts on how it will go.
WTA Charleston Final Prediction
Danka Kovinic vs Veronika Kudermetova
What an absolutely incredible run from Kovinic here. The Montenegrin has always performed better on clay than other surfaces, but nothing could have prepared us for this. Ranked #91 in the world, Kovinic is in her first Tour-level final since Istanbul in 2016. This is, by far, the most impressive tournament of the 26-year-old’s career. Kovinic has defeated four Top 100 players, including the rising Leylah Fernandez, three in the Top 30. Her quick work of near-top-ten players Petra Kvitova and Ons Jabeur was nothing short of staggering.
Kudermetova, meanwhile, has been absolutely blitzing everyone this tournament. Not only has she not lost a set in her five matches in Charleston, she has yet to lose more than four games in a set. None of her wins are as impressive as Kovinic’s victories over Kvitova and Jabeur (or even Yulia Putintseva), but the way she’s playing just feels untouchable. In theory, the Russian is a better player, as her current ranking is better than Kovinic’s career high, and Kudermetova is still rising at just 23 years old. In reality, from what we’ve seen on the court this week, she’s looking like a much better player.
One of these two women will walk away from Charleston with a first career title. Based on how she’s playing this week, it looks like it will be the Russian, who will move into the Top 30 for the first time in her career with a win.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
